The design goal for this remodel project was to create the new living areas needed by the family while retaining as much of the existing home as practical in order to carefully manage budget. Our design approach focused on re-imagining and re-purposing existing spaces to function well for the needs of the family, while creating new spaces that were more tailored towards the size and volume expected in today’s custom homes.

The primary goal of the new design was to maximize views from the entry foyer, which originally had an eight-foot ceiling, no exterior light and a stair protruding across any view into the house beyond. The new design relocated the stair to an exterior wall where it serves to bring a significant amount of light into the home. The views from the foyer were then opened up to create an amazing vista across a large great room, with volume ceiling, into the woods beyond.

The original living room, also adjacent to the foyer, was recreated as a dining room with custom butler’s pantry cabinetry. The new dining room is open to a keeping room space (the original dining room) which has great flexibility as a comfortable seating area when entertaining or a quiet place to read the morning paper with beautiful views of the garden. A new kitchen, complete with custom cabinetry and built-in booth at the eating area, is open to the new great room and has unobstructed views of the property. Outdoor living options are maximized through two screen porches, one located off the formal dining room area and a second located off the kitchen and great room areas.

The main staircase is accented by a large landing with bookcase and window seat and leads to a second floor containing five bedrooms, plus a playroom. The master suite has large windows with elevated views of the treetops and a contemporary master bath design that uses a large amount of glass, taking advantage of the privacy created by the heavily wooded property. Playful details accent the secondary bedrooms, including a sleeping loft and playroom located behind a “secret-door” bookcase.

There are numerous other features throughout the home including cabinetry details, custom built-ins, finish materials, and exterior architecture that express the unique and distinctive nature of this design.